Author's Note: Bah, sorry for not updating. Here's the next chappie for you! Thanks for the reviews again, please keep them coming!

Part 9

It was cold in the prison cell. Shinichi paced a little, thumping his feet on the stone floor. He sat down on the bunk bed, bouncing on it a bit. The spring in the mattress was probably broken. Then he observed his surrounding.

The door and window had bars over them. An officer on duty would occasionally patrol the corridor, humming a tune filled with off-keys. The walls were covered with graffiti, most likely done by the previous prisoners. Shinichi did not want to describe the lavatory. All he could say was that the place stank.

And it was his home from now on.

He wondered how dumb he was to have done what he did. Everyone in Japan was probably shocked by the news. After all, he had always been known as the best high school detective ever known. Soon, his parents would be flying over from the States to see him; there was no doubt about it. He also wondered what Ran thought. He had been there for a day already, and she had not visited him. She must think I'm lousy, he thought sadly. She won't like a person as stupid as I am.

Then he thought of Kaito. He wondered how the boy was taking it. He was probably unhappy about the misfortune with Shinichi. Shinichi was worried that he would do something stupid like turning himself in to the police. Not that he wanted to be in jail for life, but he definitely did not want his new friend to be in that state. Yes, he would rather sacrifice himself. How bad could it get anyway? He would get used to prison life, just like any other criminal.

Unless he became mad first.

He was about to lie down when he heard the cell door open noisily. He turned, and his eyes went wide.

It was Kaito. He had stepped into the cell while the officer closed the door behind him. They looked at each other for a moment, eyes connected.

Then, Shinichi spoke up first. "What are you doing here?"

"What? You should be happy that I'm visiting you," Kaito said as-a-matter-of-factly. He looked around. "Nice cell." Then he glanced at Shinichi's prison clothes. "Nice fashion."

"It's all that you can get being a jailed person," Shinichi replied. "Are you okay? You didn't come here to turn yourself in or something, are you? Because I won't allow you to do that, even though I appreciate the fact that you want me to get out of this wretched place."

"Who says I was going to turn myself in?"

Shinichi narrowed his eyes. Kaito was being too calm. "You mean, it's a pleasure to see me like this?" he said a little sarcastically.

Kaito sighed, turning back to Shinichi after exploring the cell. "You suspect too much, Kudo. Of course I'm getting you out of here. I have an idea."

"What idea?" Shinichi said slowly.

Kaito folded his arms. "I'm going to appear as Kaitou Kid, just that simple."

"Idiot. They might think you're Kid's assistant. And you DO have an assistant."

"Let them. I can clear that fact out easily. And I suppose they'll enjoy the fact that Kaitou Kid will do his final disappearing act."

"Final disappearing act?" Shinichi did not like the feeling of this. Kid's plan sounded worse than his.

Kaito nodded. "That's all I have to say. So just hang in there. I promise you that you'll be out by tomorrow. Sayonara." He turned to leave.

"Matte."

Kaito stopped and looked over his shoulder. Shinichi had gotten to his feet, concern crossing his face.

"Kuroba, you…you don't want to stop being Kid, do you?"

Kaito didn't reply. He just stood there, not looking at Shinichi.

"I've had plenty of time to think about what had happened," Shinichi stated. "You did not directly admit that you've destroyed the jewel, nor did you have a direct explanation as to why you're still being Kid. You know that you'll only lure those would-be murderers out. I doubt you're the type who is willing to get killed. I don't think that you enjoy the pleasure of mocking the police and such too, but…you still don't want to stop being Kid, right? After all, your father's memory lies in it. It's kind of like…a legacy. A legacy which you can't break because of your father. Am I right?"

Kaito hesitated. Shinichi was patient as he waited for an answer. Kaito closed his eyes, letting out a sigh.

"You think too much, Kudo."

And he left. He signaled to the officer that he was done as he stepped out, and didn't look back as he exited the horrible place.

"Why aren't there as many officers as before, keibu?" Kaito asked.

Nakamori-keibu started at the voice. He turned to face the boy, frowning deeply. "What are you doing here, Kaito-kun?"

"Just want to make sure you're all right, keibu," Kaito replied, looking around. "You haven't answered my question."

Nakamori grunted, surveying the large room, where there was only around twenty officers guarding over the jewel that was placed in a tight case. It was the next night, and they had already put it on guard. He didn't reply, but Kaito knew the answer. "You don't think that Kid is still around, is it?"

"It's not that I don't trust you, Kaito-kun. Besides, I'm the one giving instructions around here, so just leave it to us, all right?"

Kaito shrugged. "Okay. We, I see you later then, keibu. Jaa!" He headed for the door, pausing only to wave before leaving. Once he was outside, he rushed up the stairs towards the roof, changing into Kaitou Kid during the process. By the time he got to the roof, he was ready.

He glanced at his watch with a smile. "Showtime."

He snapped a hook on the railing and tested it. Once it was secure, he stood at the edge of the roof and jumped off. He fell for a moment, until the rope tightened and pulled him to a stop. He had sprung up a bit at the same time, and with perfect timing, he lifted his foot and broke through the window. He stood balanced perfectly on the sill, while the officers looked up in shock. Nakamori-keibu's jaw fell in disbelief.

Kid spread out his arms grandly. "Kaitou Kid has arrived! Konbanwa gozaimasu, keibu! It's good to see you again!"

"Kudo!" Nakamori roared. "How did you---"

Kid raised a hand to silence him. "I'm not Kudo, keibu. Kudo was never Kaitou Kid, if you have to know. How else would I be here, hm? You've made a terrible mistake, keibu! I'm back, and you can't stop me!"

Suddenly, smoke burst out, enveloping the case. Officers immediately sprang forward to protect it, but when the smoke cleared, there was nothing inside the case. They spun around to Kid, who was holding the gem in his hand.

"Now you know the true form of phantom thieves, keibu!" he declared. "A phantom thief uses perfect delusion to fool everyone. A mere over-logical detective like Kudo can never be an illusionist such as me! Do you understand, keibu?"

"Who the hell are you!" Nakamori screeched in rage.

Kid laughed. "Ore wa Kaitou Kid desu, keibu---and I'll always be! Jaa!" He winked, and sprang out of the window. Officers ran forward to look for him, but when they looked out of the window, Kid was gone.

At that moment, standing under the waning moon on the roof of the building, was Kid. His cape fluttered in the breeze as he watched the lonesome city below him.

"Nice trick back there, Kid."

Kid smiled. He had been expecting it. They had never failed to find him, after all. "Thanks for the compliment. And I think I know why you're here, hm?"

There was a chuckle. "Of course you do." There was a click. "What amuses me is that you kept the gem. I know you can't resist it…nobody can resist the charming Pandora gem that is to give eternal life."

"I believe you are quite right."

"I'm always right. Now, hang over the gem, or I'll blow a hole in your head."

There was a clink. The man with the gun looked down to see the gem at his foot. He smiled, and bent down to pick it up, keeping his gun aimed at Kid. "Thank you, Kid-san. You've made a good decision."

"I believe I did" was the answer.

The man smirked. "And all good decisions bring some consequences…"

There was a bang of a gunshot. Kid fell on the ground, a wound in his back, where reddish liquid spilled from.

"Unfortunately for you, it's a bad one." The man laughed evilly as he left the scene, leaving the body where it was for anyone to find out.